Officials announced Wednesday that its passport online renewal system is now fully operational, after testing in pilot programs, and available to adult passport holders whose passport has expired within the past five years or will expire in the coming year. That means American can now renew their passports online, bypassing a cumbersome mail-in paper application process that often caused delays.
Eligibility and Limitations
It is not available for the renewal of children's passports, for first-time passport applicants for renewal applicants who live outside the United States or for expedited applications.
Modernizing Government Services
“By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The department said it estimated that about 5 million Americans would be able to use this service a year. In 2023, it processed 24 million passports, about 40% of which were renewals.
Faster Processing Times
After staffing shortages caused mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lengthy passport processing delays, the department ramped up hiring and introduced other technological improvements that have reduced wait times by about one-third over last year. It says most applications are now completed in far less than the advertised six weeks to eight weeks and the online renewal system is expected to further reduce that.
How to Renew Online
There will be no change to the existing passport processing fees, which are currently $130 for a regular renewal.
Expanding the Program
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter, whose bureau oversees passport processing said the department hoped to expand the program in the coming years to possibly include Americans living abroad, those seeking to renew a second passport and children's passports.
“This is not going to be the last thing that we do,” she told reporters. “We want to see how this goes and then we’ll start looking at ways to continue to make this service available to more American citizens in the coming months and years.”
A More Convenient Option
The announcement follows months of limited testing of a public beta version of the tool. The department closed the tool after it reached certain application thresholds, making changes based on customer feedback. The state also previously piloted online applications in 2022.
Bitter noted a significant change in the number of applications the system can now handle. The department plans to expand the service to include more types of renewals in the future.
“We will expand this. This is not going to be the last thing that we do,” Bitter stated. “We want to see how this goes and then we’ll start looking at ways to continue to make this service available to more American citizens in the coming months and years.”
A Step Towards Modernization
The update is part of the department’s broader efforts to modernize and reduce administrative barriers. The move to online renewals was included in a 2021 executive order on customer experience.
“Our goal, of course, is to get away from paper as much as we can, as quickly as possible,” said Bitter. “This is a first step in what we hope will be a much longer-term process to be able to modernize the systems that we’re using.”
Choice and Convenience
Currently, only adult passports can be renewed online, and only those living in the U.S., either in a state or territory, can use the service.
“The benefit of online passport renewal is that it’s a more convenient service,” Bitter added. “We don’t expect to have a different service standard for people who apply online versus people who apply by mail. We just want to make sure that we give the American people a choice to be able to do either.”
Return to Normal Processing Times
Passport processing times have returned to below six to eight weeks after peaking at 18 weeks in 2021 due to COVID-related staffing shortages. Despite a drop in demand during the pandemic, the department reported a significant bounce-back in 2023 as more Americans resumed global travel.
“We want to make sure we provide the most efficient and modern services possible,” Bitter concluded.
A New Era of Passport Services
Americans can now renew their passports online, following the official launch of the U.S. Department of State's online renewal system on Wednesday.
“A significant step forward in ensuring Americans can more easily access passport services. This online alternative is an important example of how we are modernizing government services.,” the Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on X. The new online system is expected to “save time and effort” for applicants and is available 24/7.
How to Renew Your Passport Online
For now, the online renewal option is only available to those living in the United States or its territories. The department noted that individuals traveling within eight weeks, or who need a special issuance passport, cannot use the service.
To renew a passport online, applicants need to create an account on the MyTravelGov portal and submit their application, including a digital photo and payment by credit or debit card. Passports renewed online will follow the same processing times as those renewed by mail, with routine service taking up to eight weeks.
